baschet



Aug. 20', 1963 Filed March 11, 1958 F. P. M. BASCHET cowouno MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Aug. 20, 1963 I am aAscl-ls' l" 3,101,022.

coupouma MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed March'll, 195s 2 Sheets-Sheet? 3,101,622 CGMPOUND MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Fran'gois Pierre Maurice Baschet, ll. Rue J. ale Beauvais,

. Paris 5,- France I Filed Mar. 11, 1958, so. No. 720,685 Claims priority, appiication France Mar. 12, 195 .1 a 4 Claims. (in. 84-404) I characteristic features are ascribable to the fact that they include one or more vibration generators of a single type, whether strings, reeds, a vibrating surface associated witha single radiator or transformer of impedances, such as a resonance box, a pipe, a vibrating surface or the like. The tone given by such instruments-at the moment of the attack of a vibrating generator is a single and welldefined tone.

The object of my invention is an instrument producing under the action of a vibrating generator the characteristic 7 note of said generator associated with harmonics and 7 notes the frequencies of which are sub-multiples and the like derived frequencies, so as to produce consonant and dissonant sounds the acoustic'power of which is modified by a plurality of radiating members with a view to producing various rtimbres or characters of the musical sounds. More specifically, the transformation provided by each of these radiating members consists in modifying, to a different extent for each ofthe latter, the relative intensities of the multiples andsub-multiples of the frequencies transmitted to them; in other words, I thus transform the curve defining the compound sounds produced by the generator, in contradis-tinction with the more conventional resonant amplification of said sounds.

The execution of such an instrument has been made possible by my finding that it is possible to transmit from one vibratory member to another and to the ambientair an intense vibratory energy, provided theinterconnection between said members ensures a gradual matching of the parametersgoverning the said transfer of energy, to wit: the acoustic pressure and the speed of-acoustic waves.

United) States Piano" My improved instrument includes a metal rigid carrier bar, a plurality of generators of tuned vibrations constituted by metallic rods one end of which is rigidly connected with said carrier bar so as to have avibration node at the point of connection and radiating elements carried by said carrier bar. Such a metal rigid carrier bar must have a mass such that it is incapable of assuming any substantial shifting in space under the action of the transversal vibrations of the generatorof tuned vibrations and that it forms a vibration node for the vibrations of the rods of said generators at their ends connected with the carrier bar. My invention has also for its object to fix on the carrier bar non-tuned flexible metallic elements adapted to vibrate at variable frequencies.

It is apparent that upon energizaticn of a generator of tuned vibrations the latter produces a predetermined type of vibratory wave resulting from the base frequency of its constituting rod or rods assembly'with its harmonics and fractional waves corresponding to multiples and submultiples of said frequency, while the vibratory energy is, as a consequence of the matching between the successive elements of the acoustic circuit, transmitted by the carrier bar to the non-tuned vibrating elements which may be provided and vibrate through resonance at their i satin-22 Patented Aug. 29, 1963 own frequencies so that they return to the acoustic circuit a vibratory energy which is in phase or out of phase in superposition over their own natural frequency, the system of vibratory energies superposed in the acoustic circuit defined hereinabove being transmitted to the air by the radiating elements which, as a consequence of the transformation of the high pressure vibratory energy into a different vibratory energy adapted to be propagated through air bestows to the sounds their final desired timembodiment of my invention to resort to a so-called glass bow constituted by a rod having a frictional coefiicient approximating that of glass, fitted perpendicularly to a rod of each generator of tuned vibrations and adapted to be frictionally set into operation so as to generate trans- Versal vibrations in said rod of the generator.

Such a bow includes advantageously a connecting member or support which is yielding at least in one direction, preferably in the plane including the longitudinal direction of the rod of the, generator to be energized and the glass rod forming an extension thereof.

A generator of tuned vibrations which is particularly suitable for the execution of my invention inciudes one or preferably two parallel rods of which that having the smaller diameter carries the glass bow, said rods being fitted at their outer ends inside an element of the acoustic circuit rigid with the carrier bar While they are interconnected at their other ends by a heavy weight, the inertia of which, with reference to the pivot through which it is secured to the larger diameter rod, is adjustable so as to match and adjust the intensity of the vibratory energy transmitted by the generator to the acoustic circuit. I

The non-tuned vibratory elements adapted to vibrate upon application at one of their points of a vibratory energy, having a low amplitude and a high pressure, are ad- Vantageously constituted by bundles of yielding plates or rods of the piano Wire type for instance, having different surfaces or lengths. These resonating vibrating elements reach a maximum intensity of vibration with a certain tory energy having a low amplitude and a high pressure into a vibratory energy having a large amplitude and a low pressure adapted to be propagatedin air, may be provided with any surface or volume having a large vibratory surface in contact with the outer air such as flat or incurved vibrating plates or inflated bags of yielding material.

The radiating elements maybe constituted by electronic loud-speakers fed by an amplifier energized by a microphonic arrangement applied to a point of the instrument. I will now describe various embodiments of my invention reference made to the accompanying drawings, given by way of example and'by no means in a binding sense;

' In said drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective diagrammatic view of a prechiefly a rigid carrier bar forming a core constituted by one or more bars of metal assembled together. Said carrier 1 forms a high impedance circuit in which the speed of transmission of the acoustic waves and the acoustic pressures are high. In said FIG. 1, I have shown by way of example only a few of the elements which may serve for building my improved instrument.

To the carrier bar .1 is rigidly secured a vertical plate 4.

Said plate is provided with two series of parallel ports 5 and 6. in the ports '5 are secured small diameter rods 7 while the'ports 6 carry larger diameter rods 8. Any two superposed rods 7 and 8 are interconnected by a small plate 9 which is preferably provided with a heavy plate 10 pivotally secured to one end of the plate 9 and the angular setting of which in a plane perpendicular to the rods 7 and 8 is adjustable with a view to modifying the inertia of the system of plates 9 and it) in a plane parallel with the longitudinal direction of the rods 7' and 8 the whole constituting a generator of tuned vibrations. To the smaller diameter rod 7 is secured permanently a thin forked blade 11 made of an elastic metal and forming a support for the glass rod or bow 12 which is thus free to elastically oscillate due to elasticity of the blade 11 in a longitudinal plane parallel with the rods. If the rod 12 is subjected to a longitudinal friction exerted by hand or by a piece of moist fabric or again by a further rotary bow, the rod 7 assumes transverse vibrations, the amplitude of which is parallel with the direction of the glass bow 12, said vibration being transformed by the rod 8 and the inertia of the plates 9 and it} into longitudinal pressure pulses which are thus transmitted to the carrier bar 1 constituting an acoustic core 1.

, A second type of generators of tuned vibrations is constituted for instance by a series of rods 13 the lengths of which are adjusted sothat each vibrates at a musical frequency which may be energized through percussion or through a bow. Said rods arerigidly fitted within the carrier bar 1. A damping member 14 may be brought by a pedal 15 into contact with said rods, so as to stop their vibrations.

The vibrating elements which are not tuned are constituted in the embodiments illustrated by a bundle of piano wires and by a stack of metal sheets carried at predetermined spacings by a rod 26, said sheets forming discs of decreasing diameters 27.

The different generators of tuned vibrations produce, when energized, vibrations at an acoustic frequency, which are transmitted into the carrier bar 1, each vibration thus transmitted into said carrier bar acting on the non tuned vibrating elements which start vibrating and return to said carrier bar the frequencies received which have been shifted in time together with the multiples and sub-multiples thereof in proportions defined by the nature of said vibrating elements. The vibratory energy stored in the 1 earlier bar 1 may be transmitted to the surrounding air by various radiating elements.

In one embodiment, the carrier bar 1 includes a transverse arm 1' terminating with a fork or clamp 28 secured underneath the sounding board 29 of a piano illustrated by a portion of its string plate 30 and of its frame 31 carrying the strings 32. The vibratory energy is transmitted through the agency of the sounding board 29* to the frame 30 of the piano forming an impedance-transforming radiating element. But it should be remarked that simultaneously the strings 3-2 receive an energy which produces their vibration, so that they'return in the opposite direction back .to the carrier bar 1 a vibratory energy which may be matched by the other radiating elements carried by said carrier bar.

A second type of radiating element is constituted by a piezo-electric microphone 33 feeding, through the agency of an amplifier 34, an electromagnetic loud-speaker 35.

Another embodiment of an impedance matcher is constituted by a rod 41 carrying preferably incurved metal sheets 42 of a large area, so as to assume a oambered shape. In particular these sheets may assume the shape of conical surfaces the generating lines of which are longer on one side than on theother,said conical surfaces being advantageously deformed into formations along one or more generatinglines. What-ever may be their shape, these sheets vibrate at their point of attachment to the rod 41 under small amplitude and large pressure conditions. causes their surface to vibrate with a large amplitude, the energy applied to their securing points being distributed throughout the surface of said sheets so as to produce smaller pressures on the air and to make the latter vibrate with a larger amplitude. e

Lastly, in accordance with-a last possibility, the impedance matching radiating element may be constituted by aninflated bag 44 of a yielding material carried between two plates 45 by a rigid Ushaped member 46 integral with the carrier bar of-th'e type described in my U.S.' Patent No. 3,004,620.

The embodiment illustratedin FIG. 2 constitutes a music instrument of my novel type. It includes an inflated casing or bag 65 held between two shoes 66 facing opposits sides of the bag and'rigidly secured to corresponding arms s7 of a forked member forming a part of the stock as described in my US. Patent No, 3,004,620. The fork includes a carrier bar or core '68 for the arms. 67

the outer end of which bar is rigid with a plate 69-to which are secured rods 70' of different lengths These rods have lengths which are calculated so as to produce vibratory frequencies corresponding to musical frequenoies. To the carrier bar 68 are also secured transverse rods 71 which are more rigid than the rods '70.

When the operator hits-the rod 70 with a mallet, he starts the latter vibrating and the vibratory waves transmitted by the carrier bar 68, the fork 67 and the shoes 66 are matched and amplified by the bag 65 which provides for the transformation'of the mechanical energy into acoustic vibration-s, the frequency of which corresponds with that of the vibrations of the particular rod V 7 t) which has been hit. The rods 71 which have no natural frequency of vibration produce, when hit, a noise similar to that produced by a drum.

Obviously, many modifications may be brought to the arrangements disclosed without unduly widening the.

scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims. In particular, it is possible to select (for the different auxiliaries to be carried by the acoustic core any number or type of vibrating means which may be different in .fact from those illustrated or referred to.

What I claim is:

'1. A musical instrument comprising a metal carrier bar, 'a plurality of generators of tuned vibrations composed of metallic rods one end of which is rigidly connected to said carrier bar so as to have a node of vibration at the connecting point thereof, said generators when set in vibratory motion imparting into said carrier bar vibrations corresponding to the tuned frequency thereof, nontuned vibratory means rigidly connected to said carrier bar, said non-tuned vibratory means being set in vibratory motion by the tuned vibrations being transmitted along the carrier bar from the tuned generators so that the vibrations of the non-tuned vibratory means are imparted into said carrier bar to produce additional vibrations of the tuned frequency, said carrier ba-r having a mass such that it is incapable of undergoing any substantial shifting in space under the action of the vibrations being imparted thereto by said generators, radiating means engaging said Their inertia in the surrounding air corresponding metallic rod is set into vibratory motion.

3. A musical instrument according to claim 1 in which said vibration imparting means include a percussion member \for striking 'sai-d generators to set same into vibratory motion.

4. A musical instrument according to claim 1 in which each of said generators of tuned vibrations includes a first metallic rod and a second metallic rod .disposed in 1 the same longitudinal plane and both rods having one end connected rigidly to said carrier bar, said first metallic rod having a smaller diameter than said second metallic rod, means including an adjusting member for interconnecting the other ends of said first and second metallic rods, and said vibration imparting means includinga rod member having a frictional coefficient similar to that of glass adjustably secured to said first metallic rod.

References t'lited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 183,977 Schoenhut Oct. 31, 187 6 563,1 13 Wollenhaupt June 30, 1896 567,607 McKenzie et a1. Sept. 15, 1896 722,561 Bunch -2 Mar; 10, 1903 1,741,934 Harden Dec. 31, 1929 1,754,686 Lentz Apr. 15, 1930 1,760,252 Nicolson May 27, 1930 1,762,617 Dopyera June 10*, 1930 2,139,099 Robertson Dec. 6, 1938 2,233,244 Compare Feb. 25, 1941 2,707,414

-Marshall May 3, 1955 

1. A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A METAL CARRIER BAR, A PLURALITY OF GENERATORS OF TUNED VIBRATIONS COMPOSED OF METALLIC RODS ONE END OF WHICH IS RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO SAID CARRIER BAR SO AS TO HAVE A NODE OF VIBRATION AT THE CONNECTING POINT THEREOF, SAID GENERATORS WHEN SET IN VIBRATORY MOTION IMPARTING INTO SAID CARRIER BAR VIBRATIONS CORRESPONDING TO THE TUNED FREQUENCY THEREOF, NONTUNED VIBRATORY MEANS RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO SAID CARRIER BAR, SAID NON-TUNED VIBRATORY MEANS BEING SET IN VIBRATORY MOTION BY THE TUNED VIBRATIONS BEING TRANSMITTED ALONG THE CARRIER BAR FROM THE TUNED GENERATORS SO THAT THE VIBRATIONS OF THE NON-TUNED VIBRATORY MEANS ARE IMPARTED INTO SAID CARRIER BAR TO PRODUCE ADDITIONAL VIBRATIONS OF THE TUNED FREQUENCY, SAID CARRIER BAR HAVING A MASS SUCH THAT IT IS INCAPABLE OF UNDERGOING ANY SUBSTANTIAL SHIFTING IN SPACE UNDER THE ACTION OF THE VIBRATIONS BEING IMPARTED THERETO BY SAID GENERATORS, RADIATING MEANS ENGAGING SAID CARRIER BAR FOR TRANSFORMING THE VIBRATIONS INTO SOUND AND RADIATING SAME INTO THE ATMOSPHERE, AND MEANS FOR IMPARTING VIBRATIONS TO SAID GENERATORS OF TUNED VIBRATIONS. 